Improvement in fence-posts



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IMPROVEMENT IN FENCE-POSTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,175, dated October 16, 1877 application filed To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ENos ILLCUTS, of Lamoille, in the county of Marshall and State of Iowa, have invented certain Improvements in Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to metal fence-posts and the improvement consists in a peculiar construction of the same, whereby they are adapted to fences constructed entirely of wood or entirely of wire, with the exception of the posts, or to fences composed partially of wood and partially of wire.

It further consists in an improved formation of the posts, whereby they may be made very light without impairing their strength, all as hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a post constructed according to my plan, adapted to the construction of a fence partially of wood and partially of wire. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a post adapted to fences composed entirely of wood, entirely of wire, or partly of wood and partly of wire 5 and Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partially in section, illustrating the manner of constructing a fence with my improved post.

The object of this-invention is to produce a post which shall be adapted without any change whatever to the formation of fences of different materials and styles, according to the special place or purpose for which the fence is designed.

In the drawings, A represents my improved post, of which two slightly-different forms are shown. In each the post consists of a flat middle portion, 02, which constitutes the body of the same, and two wings, 0, one at either side, projecting outward at right angles to the portion a, and one extending forward and the other backward, as shown.

By thus arranging the wings 0 in relation to the body n, it will be seen the post is braced or strengthened against strain in all directions. In both of these wings 0 are formed elongated slots or openings 0, as shown, to receive the ends of boards or strips composing the fence, or of strips orrails, to which pickets or boards may be fastened in constructing a picket or board fence.

The strips or rails which enter these openin gs July 12, 1877.

c are indicated in the drawing by the letter G, and are preferably constructed, as shown in Fig. 3, with a tenon to enter the openings 0, the shoulders of the tenons bearing against the face of the wings o, and thereby regulating the distance to which the strips or rails G enter or pass through the openings 0.

lVhen it is desired to produce a post capable of being used with fences consisting either of wood or wire, or partiallyof each, the post is made as represented in Fig. 2, in which, as shown, both wings 0 are provided with a full number of openings, 0, and in which one of the wings is represented with a series of perforations, d, each communicating by means of a slit, 0, with the outer edge of the wing, as shown. These perforations d are to receive and retain the wire, while the slits c admit of its ready insertion and removal.

The openings 0 and d are alternated, as shown, so that there is a full set of each in each post, and the fence may consequently be constructed of either material or of both.

WVhere, however, it is considered desirable to have the post made for one peculiar style of fence only, it may readily be done by forming only the necessaryopenings for that style. A post of this description is represented in Figs. 1 and 3, it being represented as provided with openings for three wooden panels and two rows of wire.

It will be observed that the wing which contains no perforations or openings for the wire is cut away from a point just above the upper opening 0 to the top of the post, thus saving material and rendering the post lighter.

In practice, the posts maybe made either of cast or wrought iron; and it is preferred that they should be galvanized, to prevent rusting,

though it is obvious that they may be coated with any suitable material for this purpose.

WVhen made of wrought-iron they would be formed of light plate or boiler iron, bent in suitable rolls. I

The lower ends of the posts may be made of any suitable form, or may be mounted in a block or base of stone, iron, or other material. When thus constructed, the post presents a veryneat appearance, and is very light, strong, and durable.

I am aware that a post has been heretofore made with two vertical flangeson one side or face parallel, or substantially so, with each other; and such construction. I do not claim, my post differing therefrom in having its flanges extended on opposite sides, and being superior thereto in that, with the same weight of metal,

- it presents a much widerbearin gin the ground,

and consequently ofi'ers a greater resistance against being displaced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. The metal fence-post consisting of the fiat web having its edges provided with the vertical ficnges extending in opposite directions,

the flanges bein g provided with openings, and

the base of the post pointed or tapered, as

shown.

and the intermediate recesses e d, as shown and described, and for the purposes set forth.

ENOS VVILLOUTS.

Witnesses:

ROBERT Pnraon, SAMUEL NEWBY. 

